Cikcuit



Jan. 10, 1950 H. A. HUMPAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 24, 1945 INVENTOR.

BY PM maxi Arrofiusf Jan. 10, 1950 H. A. HUMPAGE I Re. 23,188

CIRCUI T BREAKER Original Filed May 24, 1945 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A k 48 :1 62/614147 45 50 5a 54 v2 F ID 73 INVENTOR. 70 HA tau; AL 6m? H UM PAGE BY F 6 m Rama! Jan. 10, 1950.

pmrsn STATES PATENT oi-Pics z 2am CIRCUIT BREAKER poration Products Oompaay, Newark, N. 1., a cor- No. 2,459,421. dated January 1a, 1949,

Serial No. 595.556, my 24, 1945. Application for-reissue June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,813

9 Claims. (Cl. 2H)

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: 1 appears in the original patent but iorms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue This invention relates to automatic circuit breakers, and more particularly to circuit break- Q 7 ers oi the type which are used for house lighting and other low amperage circuits.

' It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit breaker constructed and arranged to be I opened under the control of a thermal current responsive member, such as a bi-metallic thermostatic strip, and also under the control 01' electromagnetic means directly associated with said i! sidered in connection with the accompanying" illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of a circuit bre bodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof;

Figs. 4 and 5 are end views as seen from lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 2;

rein- Fig. 6 is a side view of the circuit breaker, one Q part of the housing being removed, the movable contact members of the circuit breaker mechanisms being in their open positions; 7

Fig. '7 is a view 01 the left hand part 01" the housing, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and'oi the circuit breaker mechanism, showing themovable contact member in its closed position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-4 0! Fig. '7; Y

P18. 12 is an end view of a combined terminal and stationary contact member of one type;

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of a combined terminal and stationary contact member of another type.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the circuit breaker of the present invention comprises a two part insulation casing or housing Ill formed of two identical or symmetrical-parts it, each oi said parts being formed of insulation material preferably by a molding operation. Each casing part i2 forms one-half of the housing, the two casing parts being secured in housing defining relation in any suitable way, for example by bolts H, the front and rearfacing edges I. and II, the end facing edge 20 and the intermediate facing edge 22 of the two casing parts II being in abutting surface to surface relation. Said facing edges are formed on the thickened edge portions at the inner or confronting sides of the opposed side walls of the housing,said thickened edge portions oi said side walls extending peripherally of the housing. Thus, each casing part is formed with two recesses 24 which define two' chambers for two circuit breaker mechanisms.

It will be understood, however, that the housing can'be provided for a single pole breaker in which 'case it can have a single chamber, in lieu of the two chambers for the multi-pole circuit breaker illustrated herein. Each casing part I! is provided at its opposite ends with open recessed portions 26 which form arcing chambers and in which terminal members and the stationary contaste of the two circuit breaker units are positionedrespectively. The arcing chambers formed by the recesses 28 provided in the companion casing parts I! are indicated at 20 in Figs. 4 and 5. The irontof each casing part is provided with recessed portions which deflne openings lli through which the handles 32 project for manual operation 01' the circuit breaker mechanisms.

. Each of said handles is fixed to pivot pin 34, the

9 is a sectional view onrthe line Of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line il-ll of Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a mega member forming mechanism;

a part 01' circuit opposite ends of which are received in bearing recesses 38 (Fig. 8) formed in the compani casing parts l2.

Referring now to the circuit breaker mechanisms, which are disposed in the companion chambers in housing ill, each'of said mechanisms is of the same construction and includes a manually operable member, here shown as the abovementioned pivoted handle 82. A movable contact aaise ing recesses 4| in the companion casing parts I2. 5

Said movable contact member I8 is provided at one end thereof with a contact 42 which is engageable with and disengageable from a companion stationary contact 44 carried by a terminal member 46 or by a terminal member 48 both of which will hereinafter be more particularly described. The casing II is provided with Y means for guiding movable contact member I8,

for which purpose the thickened or inwardly projecting end portions 4! of the companion casing parts I I are provided with recessed portions 45 which define a guide slot 41 (Figs. 9 and 10) through which an end portion 48 projects with slight clearance. Thus. it will be noted that the means for guiding the movable contact member 88 of each circuit breaker mechanism is formed in the casing as integral parts thereof. A thermal-current responsive member 50 which, as here shown, consists of a thermostatic bi-metallic flexible strip, is welded or otherwise secured at 5 one end thereof to a side edge of movable contact member II. The free end of bi-metallic strip 8. is arranged toreleasably engage the end or one arm of a latching lever II pivotally mounted on the end of movable contact member 8O opposite to the end which carries the contact 42, said lever 52 being preferably insulated from the movable contact member in any suitable way, for example, as shown in Fig. 7 of Christensen Patent No. 2,209,319. The other arm of lever 52 5 a connected to the companion' handle :2 by a resilient link I4, one end of which passes with slight clearance through an opening it in said arm and the other end of which is pivotally engaged with the adjacent end of said handle. As

clearly shown in the drawings, each movable contact member 38 is provided with a laterally ofl'set portion It so that each circuit breaker mechanism can comprise a movable contact member of the same construction as well as other parts of the same construction and be mounted inter-f changeably in either or the mechanism chambers of the casing. A coil spring 60 is operatively interposed between .the movable contact member 38 and the companion handle 32 for biasing the movable contact member to its open position. One end of said spring engages a lug 62 fixed to handle 32 and the other end of said spring engages a lug 64 integral with the companion movable contact member 18. .The mechanism con-- stituted by handle I2 movable contact member ll thermal strip ill lever 52 and link 54 is similar to and operates substantially in the same way as corresponding mechanism in the circuit breaker disclosed in said Christensen Patent No. 2,209,319. 00 Also as here shown the movable contact member 3. is provided with a slot 84 and a tapered screw it for calibrating the circuit breaker as shown and described in said Christensen patent. It will be understood that member Ill operates to latch 65 the manually operable actuating mechanism to the movable contact member and to unlatch the actuating mechanism from the movable contact member, the unlatching taking place by deflection of member It from engagement with lever 52 upon the occurrence of an overload or under other abnormal predetermined current conditions in the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker. when member 50 is deflected from engagement with the companion latching lever 52, spring I0 is eilective to move contact'member II to itsopen position, i. e., from the position illustrated in Fig. '1 to the position illustrated in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the inner end of the guide slot 41 constitutes a stop for member 88 to limit the opening movement of the latter. The intermediate thickened wall portion .48 of each casing part I! terminates short of the rear will of the casing to provide a recess into which levers 52 are movable, as shown in Fig. 6, and to provide shoulders 53 which serve as stops for said levers, respectively.

The thermal element BI is connected in series with movable contact member I8 and the circuit which is to be controlled by the circuit breaker. For this purpose a flexible metallic conductor, or

. connector 88 is connected to said thermal element, preferably adjacent to free end thereof, and to a companion terminal member II. There are two terminal members II, one for eachsof the two thermal members 50 of the two circuit breaker mechanisms. These two terminal members 10 are positioned in the recess below intermediate casing portions 49, and are mechanically and electrically connected preferably ,removably, to a common lead or bus bar 12 in any suitable way as by a screw 14 which passes through aligned apertures in said thermal member Ill and is threaded into a tapped hole in bus bar 12. An opening I8 is provided in the back of casing II for access to screw 14. The lead or bus bar 12 enters the casing through a slot 18 in the side thereof. Said slot is provided in each of the companion casing parts i2. Thus, the terminal lead or bus bar 12 can be long enough to project into a plurality of casings Ill which may be disposed with their respective side walls in adjacent or abiitting side by side relation. The outer portion of bus bar I2 is provided with a terminal.- member Bil. It will be noted that the provision. of the separate individual terminals III for the two circuit breaker mechanisms provides for independent calibration and testing of the different circuit breaker mechanisms and also provides for different current carrying capacities of the two circuit breaker mechanisms, respectively. Thus, while the two circuit breaker mechanisms are mounted in a commonhousing, they can be of diilerent current carrying capacities or ratings, although, of course, they can have the same current carrying capacities or ratings. As here shown, the circuit breaker mechanisms are illustrated for diflerent current carrying capacities as indicated by the different terminal members 45 and 48 for the*two independently operable circuit breaker mechanisms, respectively. More particularly the circuit breaker mechanism at the right of the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 6 is designed for a higher current carrying capacity than the other circuit breaker mechanism and 'for that purpose the terminal member 46 of said first mentioned circuit breaker mechanism has a higher current carrying capacity than the terminal member 48 for the other circuit breaker mechanism. Also it will be noted that the terminal members ill when secured to the bus bar 12 internally of the housing hold the latter in stationary position, since said terminal members are positioned in the space between confronting wall portions of the housing with the edges of said terminal members abutting or closely adjacent to the inner surfaces of said adjacent portions, respectively, of the housing.

The casing III is constructed to hold the terminal members 46 and 48 in such manner as to-obviate the need' for screws or other fastening means. For this purpose the casing III is pro,-

vided with aligned recesses 82 iormed in the companion casing parts I! to receive eitherthe pro- Jections ll of the terminal member 46 orthe pro- I such as 46 can be mounted and secured at one end of the casing and a terminal such as 48 can be mounted and secured at the opposite end of the casing. It will be understood that when the terminals are positioned with their projecting portions 83 Or I4, as the case may be, in the companion recesses 82 and the two casing parts are I fastened together by the bolts l4, or in any other suitable manner, with their inner faces in abutting relation, the terminal members are securely held or fastened to the casing, in position between the opposite side walls thereof, thus eliminating the use of extraneous fastening devices. It will be noted that, as here shown, members 45 and 48 carry the stationary contacts 44, which are preferably welded thereto, and thus constitute combined terminal and stationary contact members, and that when said combined members are mounted on the casing said stationary contacts are disposedin the respective arcing chambers in position to be releasably engaged by the contacts 42 of the companion movable, contact members I8, respectively.

- The thermal current responsive member SI operable not only in response to the heating effect of the current passing therethrough, but is "also operable under the control of electro magnetic means for effecting disengagement of the companion relatively movable contacts 42 and 44, and the arrangement is preferably such that as here shown the electro magnetic means is ener- Openings "are positioned so that said end wall of member 80' is spaced from member II, and there is'a slight clearance between the edges of member 54 and the inner surfaces of the side walls of member 04 so that the latter has a free relative movement-on member It wiilbe understood that upon the'occurrence of an overload'in excess ofthat for which the circuit breaker is designed to open'under the'controlof the thermal member II by flexing of the latter in response to the heating thereof, the electromagnetic device is operable. instantaneously to effect, disengagement of the companion contact members. It will be understood that upon the occurrence of such excess overload the magnetic attraction between mem' bers Ill and 82 results in the deflection of thermal in the arrangement of parts may be made without gized by the current which passes through the I thermal current responsive member L- For this purpose an electro magnetic member 90 is m unt;

ed on member 50 near the free end thereof-and a I companion rigid armature 92 is disposed in spaced confronting relation to electro magnetic member 90. As clearly illustrated in the \drawings, the inner end 94 of armature 92 is fixed, preferably by welding, to the fixed end of thermal member 50. The electro magnetic member 90 is secured I to the thermal member 50 by lateral'projections' 96 which are integral with thermal member '50 and which project through openings 98 in the companion electro magnetic member 90. ,Pref-- I which it is carried. Said member 90 is formed in one piece of soft sheet steel or other suitable sheet metal and is provided with an end wall, op-

posed side walls in which the openings 98 are pro--v vided, and with out-turned end portions 99 (Fig. 1i) which are arranged in surface-confronting, relation to the adjacent surface of armature 92,.

strip 50 for disengaging the latter from the companion arm of the lever 62, and in this connection it will be understood that since member 92 is rigid and thermal member 50 which carried member 9| is flexible, member 90 is movable by mag netic attraction toward member '92,'thus deflecting or unlatching thermal member 50 from the companion lever 52.

The housingdfl is provided with means to enable it to be secured to a supporting plate, panel, or other support. For this purpose the casing parts l2 are provided with recesses Hill in which nuts III fit and are held against rotation by the side walls of the recesses. Holes I04 are provided at the back of the housing for screws (not shown) which engage nuts i 02.

Certain features shown but not claimed here in are claimed in my divisional application Ser. No. 41,837, filed July 31, 1948.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise that as herein specifically illustrated or de scribed and that .in the illustrated embodiment certain changes inthe details oi! construction and departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. r l f Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by I etters Patent, is:

[1. In an automatic circuit breaker which comprisesfa stationary contact, a movable contact member provided with a contact engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact,

' manually operable actuating means, and a thermally responsive bi-metallic strip for effectin disengagement. of said contact in response to predeterminedcurrent'in thecircuit, said strip being carried by and bodily movable with said movable contactmember and also movable relatively thereto for latching the latter to and unlatching it from said. actuating means, the com 00 bination with said movable contact member and said strip of an'electro-magnet carried by said strip and a companion armature carried bysaid movable contact member, said electro-magnet' being movable in relationto said armature in response to predeterminedcurrent in the circuit whereby to move said strip to unlatch said movable contact member from said actuating means independently of the response of said strip itself to the current, and means operable upon the unlatching of said movable contact member to move the latter to disengage said contact thereof from said stationary contact] [2. In an automatic circuit breaker which come .prises a stationary contact, a movable contact 76 member provided with a contact engageable with a 7 i and disengageable from said stationary contact, manually operable actuating means, and a thermany-responsive bi-metalllc strip for eilecting disengagement of said contact in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said strip being carried by and bodily movable with said movable contact member and also movable relatively thereto for latching the latter to and unlatching it from said actuating means, the combination with said movable contact member and said strip of an electro-magnet carried by said strip and a companion armature carried by said movable contact member, said electro-magnet being movable in relation to said armature in response to predetermined current in the circuit whereby to move said strip-to unlatch said movable contact member from said actuating means independently oi the response or said strip itself to the current, said strip being electrically connected to said movable contact member and carrying the circuit current and said electro-magnet being arranged to be magnetized by the current carried by said strip, and means operable upon the unlatching of said movable contact member to move the latter to disengage said contact thereof from said stationary contact] 3. In a circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, manually operable actuating means, and a thermal-current responsive flexible strip bodily carried by and movable with said contact member and operable to latch said actuating means to the contact member and to unlatch the same by deflection oi the strip, the combination with said flexible strip of electromagnetic means including a magnetic member mounted on said strip and movable therewith and an armature bodily movable with said contact member and said strip and disposed in spaced relation to said magnetic member, whereby the latter is magnetically attracted to said armature and deflects said strip to unlatch said actuating means when said electro-magnetic means is energized to a predetermined amount, said strip hav ing lateral projections at its opposite edges, respectively, and said magnetic member straddling said strip and having opposed sides provided with openings into which said projections, respectively, extend for mounting said magnetic member on said strip.

4. In a circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, manually operable actuating means, and a thermal-current responslve flexible strip bodily carried by and movable with said contact member and operable to latch said actuating means to the contact member and to unlatch the same by deflection of the strip, the combination with said flexible strip of electromagnetic means including a magnetic member mounted on said strip and movable therewith and an armature bodily movable with said contact member and said strip and disposed in spaced relation to said magnetic member, whereby the latter is magnetically attracted to said armature and deflects said strip to unlatch said actuating means when said electro-magnetic means is energized to a predetermined amount, said magnetic member and said armature having confronting parallel surface portions and said magnetic member having a limited movement on said strip relatively thereto to maintain said surface portions in parallel relation during the flexing of said strip.

5. In a circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, manually operable actuating means. and a. thermal-current responsive flexible strip bodily carried by and movable with said contact member and operable to latch said actuating means to the contact member and to unlatch the same by deflection oi the strip, the combination with said flexible strip of electromagnetic means including a magnetic member mounted on said strip and movable therewith and an armature bodily movable with said contact member and said strip and disposed in spaced relation to said magnetic member, whereby the latter is magnetically attracted to said armature and deflects said strip to unlatch said actuating means when said electro-magnetic means is energiaedto a predetermined amount, said magnetic member and "said armature having confronting parallel surface portions and said magnetic member having a limited movement on said strip relatively thereto to maintain said surface portion in parallel relation during the flexing of said strip, said strip having lateral projections at its opposite edges, respectively, and said magnetic member straddling said strip and having pposed sides provided with openings into which said proiections, respectively, extend with clearance of the edges or said openings for mounting said magnetic member on said strip in said relatively movable relation thereto.

[6. In a circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, manually operable actuating means, and a thermal-current responslve flexible strip bodily carried by and movable with said contact member and operable to latch said actuating means to the contact member and to unlatch the same by deflection of the strip, the combination with said flexible strip of electromagnetic means including a magnetic member mounted on said strip and movable therewith and a rigid armature bodily movable with said movable contact member and said strip and assembled in flxed unitary relation therewith, said armature having a part spaced from said magnetic member in the direction of the magnetic path whereby said magnetic member is magnetically attracted to said armature and moves toward the latter with deflection or said strip upon predetermined energization oi said electro-magnetic meansJ [7. In a circuit breaker having relatively mov able companion contacts engageable with and disengageable from each other and a flexible bimetallic current-carrying strip, the combination with a movable one of said contacts and with said strip of electro-magnetic means operable in response to the current carried by said strip to flex said strip for'efl'ecting relative movement of said contacts said electro-magnetic means comprising a magnetic member positioned in such relation to said current-carrying strip that the latter constitutes the energizing current-conductor of said magnetic member and an armature mounted so that said magnetic member moves a,

toward said armature when a current 0t predetermined strength flows in said strip, said magnetic member being operatively connected to said strip to flex the latter in response to said movement of the magnetic member toward said armature, said strip and said magnetic member and its armature being all secured together as a unitwith said movable one of said relatively movable contacts] [8. In a circuit breaker having relatively-movable companion contacts engageable with and disengageable from each other and a flexible current-carrying strip, the combination with a movable one of said contacts and with said strip 01 electromagnetic means operable in response to Y 9 the current carried by said eleetro-magnetic means comprising a'magsaid striptoflexsaidstrlp for eflecting relative movement of said contacts,

netic member positioned in such relation to said" I current-carrying strip that the latter constitutesthe energizing current-conductor of said mag-. netic member, and an armature mounted so that said magnetic member moves toward said arma- 1 spouse to current of a diflerent strength than that required to effect flexing of said strip by said magnetic member, said strip and said magnetic member and its armature being all secured to gether as a unit with said movable one of said relatively movable contacts] 9. In a circuit breaker mechanism comprising a movable contact member, manually operable actuating means, latching means, and a thermalcurrent responsive flexible strip bodily carried by and movable with said contact member and operable to latch said actuating means to' the contact member and to unlatch the same by deflection of the strip, the combination with said flexible strip of electro-magnetic means including a magnetic member mounted on said strip and movable therewith, said flexible thermal-current responsive strip having a part at one side of said magnetic member fixed to said movable contact direction of the magnetic path whereby said.

magnetic member is magnetically attracted to said armature and moves toward the latter with deflection of said strip upon predetermined energieation of said electro-magnetic means.

10. In an automatic circuit breaker which comprises a stationary contact, a movable contact member provided with a contact engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact; manually operable actuating means, and a thermally-responsive bi-metallz'c strip for eflecting disengagement of said contact in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said strip being carried by and bodily movable with said movable contact member and also movable relatively thereto for latching the latter to and unlatching it from said actuating means, said strip having a' rectilinear portion, the combination with said movable contact member and said stripof an electro-magnet carried by said strip and a conpanion armature carried by said movable contact member, said electro-magnet comprising said portion of said strip and a magnetic member mounted directly on and disposed between the opposite ends of said rectilinear portion of the strip, said electro-magnet being movable in relation to said armature in response to predetermined current in the circuit whereby to move said strip to unlatch said movable contact membar from said actuating means independently of the response of said strip itself to the current,

and' means operable upon thei unlatching of said movable contact latter to disengage ,saidacontact :thereof said stationary contact.

11. In an automatic circuit breaker which cornprises a stationary contact, a movable contact member provided with a contact engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact, manually operable actuating means, and a thermally-responsive bi-metallic strip for ejecting disengagement of said contact in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said strip being carried by and bodily movable with said movable contact member and also movable relatively thereto jor latching the latter to and unlatching it from said actuating means, the combination with said movable contact member and said strip 'of an electro-magnet carried by said strip and a companion armature carried by said movable contact member, said electro-magnet being movable in relation to said armature in response to predetermined current in the circuit whereby to move said strip to unlatch said movable contact member from said actuating means independently of the response of said strip itself to the current, said electro-magnet comprising a rectilinear portion of said strip and a magnetic member mounteddirectlyonanddisposedbetweentheopposite endszof; said rectilinear portion of the strip, said stripbeing electrically connected to said movable contact member and carrying the circuit current andwsaid electro-magnet being arranged to be magnetized by the current carried by said strip, and'means operable upon the unlatching of said movable contact member to move the latter to disengage said contact thereof from said stationary contact.

12. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable companion contacts engageable with and disengageable from each other and a flexible rectilinear bi-metallic current-carrying strip, the combination with a movable one of said contacts and with said strip of electro-magneiic means operable in response to the current carried by said strip to flex said strip for ejecting relative movement of said contacts, said electro-magnetic means comprising a magnetic member positioned in such relation to said current-carrying strip that the latter constitutes the energizing currents-conductor of said magnetic member, and an armmagnetic member being mounted directly on said strip to flex the latter in rsponse to said movement of the magnetic member toward said armature, said stripand said'magnetic member and its armature being all secured together as a unit with said movable one of said relatively movable contacts. 7

13. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable companion contacts engageable with and disengageable from each-other and a flexible rectilinear current-carrying strip, the combination with a movable one of said contacts and with said strip of electro-magnetic. means operable in responsetothecurrentcarriedbysaidstriptoflex said strip for eflecting relative movement of said contacts, said electro-magnetic means comprising a magnetic member positioned in such relation to said current-carrying strip that the latter constitutes the energizing current-conductor of said magnetic member, and an armature mounted so that said magnetic member moves toward said armature when a current of predetermined as,1ss

strength flows in said strip, said magnetic member mounted directly on said strip to he: the latter in response to said movement of the magnetic member toward said armature, said strip being a bi-metallic thermostat having a thermalresponsive characteristic such that the strip flexes to eflect relative movement of said contacts in response to current of a diflerent strength than that required to eject flexing of said strip by said magnetic member, said strip and said magnetic member and its armature being all secured together as a unit with said movable one of said relatively movable contacts.

14. In an automatic circuit breaker which comprises a stationary contact, a movable contact member formed of metal and provided with a contact engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact, manually operable actuating means, and a thermally-responsive bimetallic strip !or ejecting disengagement of said contact in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said strip being carried directly by and bodily movable with said movable contact member and also movable relatively thereto for latching the latter to and unlatching it from said actuating means, the combination with said movable contact member and said strip of an electromagnet carried by said strip and a companion 12 armature carried directly by said movable contact member, said electro-magnet being movable in relation to said armature in response to predetermined current in the circuit whereby to move said strip to unlatch said movable contact member from said actuating means independently of the response of said strip itself to the current, and means operable upon the unlatching of said movable contact member to move the latter to disengage said contact thereof from said'stationary contact.

HAROLD ALBERT HUMPAGE.

ltmimclss crmn The following references are of record in the flle of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Adam et a]. July 29, 1947 

